Here you can read a personal account of the route for this stage, together with route maps centred around the start and end points, and information on transport connections, pubs, accommodation and camp sites. You can see a photo gallery, browse through the walk stages, and you can use Google search to look up the start and end points of your day's walking. GPX files for your sat nav are available for download, but please don't blame me if you get lost following them!

Leave Middleham due south past the castle, but immediately turn left round the flank of William's Hill to join the river Cover. Follow the river downstream until it joins the Ure, then keep on the bank of the Ure to Jervaulx Abbey. Our route heads through the beautiful abbey grounds, where you should avoid the main path heading south east to the road. Keep on heading east towards the river again, but the path meanders around to follow the available footpaths, keeping close to the river but not always directly alongside. Eventually we reach the small brewery town of Masham (pronounced Massum) at Masham Bridge. In Masham centre we rejoin walkers on the main route - assuming they have survived the horror of Little Whernside. One advantage of taking the alternative is that it knocks 3 miles off the slog from here to Carlton Miniot on the next day, so enjoy your evening in Black Sheep and Theakstons territory.